North Machine Carbon Hammer

Rating

Description

The North Machine is a lightweight technical tool designed with the most ambitious alpinist in mind. Made of aerospace composite with the stout Mix blade that is 4.2 mm and designed for hooking on both ice and rock. The North Machine's carbon composite shaft offers no compromise over quality allowing greater strength and rigidity. This is made possible by the type of reinforcement and the orientation of the carbon fibers. The North Machine is delivered with the Mix Blade and it also accepts the optional Ice Blade.

Retail price

US$ 299.95

When you click a link below and then checkout online, no matter what you buy (climbing gear or not), we get a small commission that helps us keep this site up-to-date. Thanks!

If you can’t see any buying options above, try turning off all ad-blocking plugins.

In Alpine terrain the North Machines are superb, like any technical tool they are not going to compete or replace a classic piolet on easy snow or glacial terrain but they’ll get by. Once you hit more technical terrain they excel. Their well balanced swing and easy penetration reduced fatigue on route and their light weight helped make the approach sack less of a burden. They have already become my favourite alpine tools (and its not just because of the sexy black and yellow colour scheme!). With the Scottish winter season upon us I will update this review after using the North Machines in the Scottish hills and maybe some european cascades with a bit of luck. Whilst I don’t envisage using them on truly technical mixed routes it will be interesting to see how the carbon shafts withstand the rough and tumble of typical Scottish winter climbs.